The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-10-05
THE OPIUM HABIT
DRAGs DOWN a FAMOUS ACTRESS.

DRAGs DOWN A FAMOUS ACTRESS
Sarah Jewott, tho New York Favorite, .
Physical Wreck, and Relying Upon Char.
ity for Her subsistouos-Ths Sad story
~ Of tho Failure Of Great Actress. = l5
Nkw YoRK, Oct. 4.-Mias Sarah Jewett
formerly tho leading lady Of the Union
Square Theatre, applied yesterday to the
Actors Fund Charity ior money to buy
the neceaaarles Of life. The story Of Mics
Jewclt's misfortuue has no parallel among
the histories OF famous ac!ressoy Of the
American stage. Instances OF mislortune
intheatrical lilo are by no means rare,
but caso like this one Is unknown.
Nothing has been published thus far
about tho mattor, although the facts were
known in certain quartera some days
ago through 6. letter which we'll known
woman OF tho stags wrote. In this letter
the following pasaago appeared: "The
efforts Of Sarah Jewetts friends to
conceal the real condition OF things par.
take OF tho hsture OF mistaken kindness.
believe II the full atory OF her miserv
were told, the many friends whom she
still retains, and whp still cherish her
memory, and the thousands Of people who
have been delighted by her acting, would
step forward eagerly and extend their as.
sistancs. New York lie 10 such a rush
and whirl that nothing 10 go easy to be
forgotten, and the relation Of the true
story OF Miss Jewett'a uu}appiness could
not help doing hor good" II.',
1t ia doubtful II any actress has held a
warmer place in theatre goers' hearts than
the loading lady Of tho Union Square Tho.
afro In the zenith OF tho Huccesu OF that
house, when tho late Chss. r. Thorns
was leading man and the productions
were constant sefiea OF triumphs. Miss
Jswe.t was the bright particular star Of
the cast. In thei Two Orphanu, Rise
Michel and the other well.knovn pieces,
Mlss Jewetss creations were continually
successful. There waa 7.g''
NEVER A WORD OF SCANDAL II
whispered against hsr name and she
was very pronounced favorits of the
women portion Of the audience. She had
fully as many admuors among the women
as among the men, and ahs was one of
the most popular msmbsrs Of tho Sosogis
and other clubs. Miss Jewets's methods
were quiet and artistic. She was not q
sensational actress, did not rant, and i'm
bued most of her character with Ger.
tain domssticity and sentiment that
formed the ground work Of her repu.a.
sion. Her lie was simple when off the
stage, and though Bhs drove occasionally
in the park, she was sa.dom seen in pub
lie. In fac. it would heyo bssu difficult
| at that time to havs picked
out an actress whose future seemed
30 assured as that Of the leading lady of
what, at that time, was unquestionably
tho foremoat theatres in America. In
pereon Miss Jewett was OF medium height,
with a slender, bat we'll rounded, form,
light hair and a dimpled facs. Shs came
OF excellent family, and bad relatives iiv.
ing in New York. When the collapse of
the Union Square Theatre came, Charles
Thorne died, and the strongest company
OF tho times was disbandsd. Sarah Jew
ett wss inundated with offers from man.
ayers all over the country. She vent out
with ono company and another on the
road and neysr stayed sny length OF time,
but invariably caEe back to New York,
expressing moro or leas dissatisfaction with
her engagements. No one eeemod to sus-
pect the true cause Of her repeated iailures,
IS there was never sques:ion Of her ability
MS an actress. Last night III the Hoffman
House oae Of her former mausgsrs was
asked about this portion OF Miss Jewett's
career. He chewed the end OF his cigar
moodily Tor moment and then Daid
shorily: - IN s3,.
9te crluM THE CAUSE. q 4.
"Are the facts known about Miss Jew.
cit ~ II :;1fi- 5ls t..s;s II; 81,
ut is known thatHhe applied to the Ac.
tors Fund for assistanccand that Manager
A. NJ. Palmer sent his check for $3.50" 13l
"Yes, | know about that. The fund will
undoubtedly restore the money to Mr..
Palmer. He sent his personal check. II
takes some time for tho machinery Of the
Actors Fund to work, and Miss Jewett's
needs were very pressing. What I mean
to ask was whether It was generally known
that opium is at, the bottom of all her
troubles? ! have heard 1t from half q
dozsn men to night. s..,St Il; /, E. E. 2-
swell, that's tho cause Of the whole
thing. It uumbs all her senses. makes
her utterly stupid, destroys her ability,
and has in fact Threatened to wreck what
was once one Of the most beautiful and
intelligent actresses on tho Ameri.
can stage. The craz3 began shortly
after Miss Jewett LETT the q nion
Square theatre. Like most people Of in
tense artistic temperament, tho drug ex.
cited her violently and soon got grin
that nothing has been able to loosen. It
|aimply transforms Ler when she is under
its influence, and her will has grown
weaker and weaker, ag her eYoessee have
increased, until nothing of the brilliant
woman who once hold complete sway In
New York remains but physical wreck.
Managers had extraordinary trouble with
Miss Jewstt from the fact that her native
dignity and gsntleness warded of for a
time all iu0uirien, but aiter q little ahe
became SO utterly iuddlsd that her friends
made an effort to save her. Every effort
up to this timo has utterly failed. One
by one her friends have been alieaated
until now few Of them remain. She was
only two weeks in my company and then
we .Eere obliged to cancel her contract,
, ss.,s TX s. 8JiEITIlIJs sf,pITEJTJ- d S5 u ts